Wire-stretcher.



T. J. MEISBR.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1914.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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T. J. MEISER.

WIRE STRETGHEB.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1914.

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shows a horizontal, sectional view,

THOMAS J. MEISER, 0F DES MOINES, IOWA.

WIRE-STRETCEE R.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed August 10, 1914. Serial No. 856,139.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. MEISER, a citizen of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of llowa, have invented a certain new and useful Wire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a wire stretcher of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, adapted to stretch one or more wires at the same time and to stretch single wires or woven wire fences.

A further object is to provide such a stretcher, including a frame, and means for securing the frame against a post for holding it rigidly in position and imposing the pull of the wire against the post.

Still a further object is to provide such a device so arranged and constructed as to afford a rigid mounting for the means for moving the wire gripping devices.

A further object is to provide an improved clamp device for gripping the wire of the fence.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a wire stretcher, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of my improved stretcher secured to a post and having a woven wire fence secured to the wire gripping means. Fig. 5 shows a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 55 of Fig. i. Fig. 6 shows a detail, sectional view of one of the brackets for engaging the post. Fig. 7 shows a horizontal, sectional view through the post and the post engaging block showing the manner in which the stretcher is secured to the post. Figs. 8 and 9 show detail views of parts of the clamping device.

My improved wire stretcher is preferably made mainly of hollow pipe and comprises the upright end members which I have indicated in the accompanying drawings by the reference numerals 10 and 11. For convenience in description I shall call the upright member which is the end adjacent to the post, the front upright member, and the member 11 the rear upright member.

Mounted on the lower ends of the members 10 and 11 are ordinary floor flanges 12 forming supports for the lower ends of said upright members.

Slidably mounted on the upright member 10 are Ts 13 and 1 1, spaced apart from each other, as shown in Fig. 1. Formed on each of the Ts 13 and 1a is a flange 15. Mounted in the T 13 is a set screw 16 for securing said T in any position on the upright member 10. Screwed into the "We 13 and 1 1 are upper and lower parallel longitudinal frame members 17 and 18 also preferably made of pipe. At the rear end of each member 17 and 18 is a side outlet 1. 19. Screwed into each of the Us 19 is a short pipe 20. The pipes 20 are connected by a so-called cross fitting 21, into which the pipes 20 are screwed. Mounted on the upright 11 are Ts 22 and 23, which are connected with the side outlet Us 19 by short pipe sections 24.

Mounted horizontally in the cross 21 is a sleeve 25, parallel with the members 17 and 18 and extending slightly beyond the cross 21 at its forward end.

Formed on the sleeve 25 are braces 26 and 27, extending respectively upwardly and forwardly to the member 17, and downwardly and forwardly to the member 18. The braces 26 and 27 are secured to the members 17 and 18 by means of bolts 28.

Slidably mounted on the members 17 and 18 is a plate or bar 29 having a central screw threaded opening 30 in which is received a screw threaded rod 31. At the rear end of the screw threaded rod is a smooth portion 32 which has at its extreme rear end a spindle 33 on which is mounted a hand wheel 34., which is secured to the spindles 33 by means of a set screw 35. The hand wheel 34 rests against and rotates with relation to the sleeve 25, imposing draft on the members 17 and 18 through the braces 26 and 27. Secured to the plate or bar 29 by means of bolts 36 is a longer plate 37. On the upper end of the plate 37 is a barbed wire engaging device 70. A plurality of staples 38 have both their shanks extended through the plate or bar 27, so that said staples lie in horizontal planes. The ends of said shanks are screw threaded to receive nuts 38. The

staples 38 are received in slots 39 in a plate or bar 40 and the members 37 and 40 form a wire gripping device.

For gripping the members 37 and 40 together the following described means is used. An angle iron 60 has a plurality of slots 61 similar to the slots of a bayonet joint, formed in one flange said slots extending from the edge of said flange toward the other flange at A, and then downwardly at B. The upwardly extending portions 62 outside of the slot portions B are beveled at 63 to form a wedge, the solid flange of the member 60 may be placed against the outer surface of the member 40 with the portions 62 just below the respective staples.

Mounted on the upper end of the member 40 is a laterally extending bearing 64.

Formed on the upper end of the member 60 is a screw threaded rod 65 which is extended through the bearing 64 on the member 40.

Above the bearing 64 is a washer 66 and a winged nut67.

Mounted on the member 40 is a loop 67, in Which the member 60 is slidably mounted. It will readily be seen that if the member 60 is drawn upwardly by securing the nut 67 upon the rod 66, then the point 62 will enter the staples 38 and will force the members 40 and 37 together for gripping between them the wires 41. The wires 41 may be extended between the parts 37 and 40 and. gripped between them as described.

Slidably mounted on the upright member 10, between the members 13 and 14 is a post engaging block 42, having a plurality of faces of different shapes adapted to rest against posts of different shapes. The block 42 may be secured on the member 10 in any position by means of a set screw 43, and is preferably provided with a smooth face 44 and with curved roughened faces 45 and '46. The faces 45 and 46 have different shapes for engaging different shaped posts.

The stretcher may be secured to the post 47 in the following manner: Secured to the flanges 15 are horizontal plates 48 in which are longitudinally elongated slots 49. Secured to each plate 48 is a similar plate 50 having a similar slot 51. Each pair of plates 48 and 50 may be securedtogether in different positions of their longitudinal adjustment by means of bolts 52. Formed on the outer end of each plate 48 and 50 is a forward extension .53, on the outer ends of which are comparatively sharp, opposite, inwardly extending points 54, adapted to engage a post. Secured to one of the members 53 is a chain or other flexible device 55. Formed on the member 54, on the opposite member 53 is a rearwardly curved double claw 56, similar to that on a claw hammer, and adapted to receive between its members links of the chain 55.

In the practical operation of my improved fence stretcher, the members 12 are rested upon the ground in line with the fence, the screw 16 is loosened and the frame composed of the members 17 and 18 and the parts connecting them, excepting the upright members, is raised to the desired height, when the screw 16 is tightened and the frame will be held in its proper position. The member 10 is placed with the suitable face of the block 44 against the post 47 and the screw 43 is tightened with the block 44 in its proper position. The chains 55 are then extended around the post and placed with the proper links received in theclaws 56 and the hand wheel 34 is then rotated for moving the wire gripping device to its forward position. The wire is then fastened between the members 37 and 40, by forcing the wedge shaped members 63 upwardly through the staples by means of the winged nut 67 on the screw threaded member 65. By then rotating the hand wheel 34 to the right, the wire gripping device and the wire secured thereto may be drawn rearwardly, thereby stretching or tightening the wire. 7 7

It will readily be seen that as many wires may be secured to the wire stretching device as may be desired and that the device may be used for stretching. woven wire fences insomuch as the member 40 may be entirely detached by lifting it until the hooks on the members 37.may be slipped through .the

slots 39.

One of the important features of my improved fence stretcher is that it is made for the most part out of pipe which is of material readily accessible at any place and which is comparatively inexpensive and easy to handle. The fittings which have been described are, as a general rule, readily accessible anywhere. Where, however, the ordinary cheap and accessible fittings are used, something further is required to give rigidity to the frame and for that purpose I use the sleeve 25 with the braces 26 and 27, whereby the strain of the draft on the wire may be imposed on the members 17 and '18. The use of the block 44 with its faces of different shapes enables me to press my stretcher firmly against posts of any shape. The use of the chains 55 and the hooks 54 prevents the stretching device from being twisted around the post.

It will be seen that some changes may be made in the details of theconstruction of my wire stretcher without departing from frame, means for imparting horizontal sliding movement to said Wire gripping device, a post engaging device having a plurality of faces rotatably mounted on said frame, and means for securing said frame to a post.

2. In a Wire stretcher, upright members, a frame slidably mounted thereon, a Wire gripping device slidably mounted on said frame, means for imparting horizontal sliding movement to said Wire gripping device, a post engaging device having a plurality of faces, adapted to fit the surfaces of differently shaped posts, rotatably mounted on said frame, and securing devices mounted on said frame and adapted to secure a post to the frame in engagement with one of said faces.

3. In a Wire stretcher, upright members, a frame slidably mounted thereon, a Wire gripping device slidably mounted on said frame, means for imparting horizontal sliding movement to said Wire gripping device, a post engaging device having a plurality of faces, adapted to fit the surfaces of differently shaped posts, rotatably mounted on said frame, means for fastening said post engaging device in any of its positions, and securing devices mounted on said frame and adapted to secure a post to the frame in engagement With one of said faces.

4c. In a Wire stretcher, upright members,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

a frame slidably mounted thereon, a Wire gripping device slidably mounted on said frame, means for imparting horizontal sliding movement to said Wire gripping device, a post engaging device having a plurality of faces rotatably mounted on said frame, means for securing said frame to a post, said means comprising bars on said frame, bars slidably mounted on said first bars, right angled extensions on the opposite ends of said bars adapted to engage a post, and flexible devices adapted to be secured to said extensions.

5. In a Wire stretcher, upright members, a frame slidably mounted thereon, a Wire gripping device slidably mounted on said frame, means for imparting horizontal sliding movement to said Wire gripping device, said means comprising a screw threaded nut on the Wire gripping device, a screW threaded rod mounted thereon having a smooth portion, said frame including a cylinder, a sleeve in said cylinder, brace members on said sleeve and secured to the members of the frame, said smooth portion of said rod being rotatably but non-slidably mounted in said sleeve.

THOMAS J. MEISER.

Witnesses:

M. WALLACE, A. SHERMAN.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

